Circuit interrupting apparatus



Dec. 2, 1941. REAGAN v 2,264,712

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet} WITNESSES: INVENTOR ci m ZZM Nay/7'66: 5 Regan.

I M BY I 2, 1941-. M. E. REAGAN CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet,2

WITNESSES: 015M WW INVENTOR Near/095 Raga/z ATTORN Patented Dec. 2, 1941 CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING APPARATUS Maurice E. Reagan, Forest Hills, Pa., a ssignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 3, 1938, Serial No. 228,331

21 Claims.

The invention relates to circuit interrupters in general and more particularly to operating means for circuit breakers.

Circuit breakers are usually provided with operating means including closing means, latching means or toggle devices for maintaining the breaker closed, and circuits for causing opening or closing of the breaker.

In cases of certain types of mechanical and/ or electrical failures of parts of the circuit breaker operating means as, for example, if the latch means for holding the breaker closed becomes defective or if the tripping means sticks in tripping position, the operating means will cause the breaker to continue opening andimmediately closing in rapid succession as long as the closing control switch is held closed. This action is known as pumping of the breaker; This pumping action will also result in the event that the operator holds or leaves the closing control switch in closedposition and there is a continuing fault on the line. Under these conditions also the breaker will open and immediately close as long as the fault condition is present and the control switch is maintained in closed position. It is desirable, therefore, to provide-some means to limit the number of these continuous opening and immediate closing operations or pumping action of the breaker.

An object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breaker operating means with a means which is operable only after the circuit breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession, to prevent further closing'of the breaker.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breaker operating; means with a means for limiting the number of opening and immediate closing operations which occur in rapid succession when certain parts of the operating means are defective and the closing control switch is held closed, or when an operator holds or leaves the closing control switch closed against a continuing fault in the line or apparatus controlled by the breaker. 7

Another object of the invention is the-pro-' vision of a circuit breaker operating means embodying a device in which energy is stored at each operation of the breaker and slowly dissipated thereafter, the device being operable only after a predetermined number of opening and immediate closing operations have occurred in rapid succession. I 7

To prevent the circuit breaker from being opened and immediately closed continuously, i. e.

from pumping as a result of the abnormal conditions previously described, there is provided, in accordance'with the invention, an energy storing device in which an increment of energy is stored on each operation of the breaker. If the energy thus applied to the storing device attains a predetermined magnitude, the storing device discharges the accumulated energy through a device which causes the circuit breaker to remain permanently open. On the other hand, if the circuit breaker should remain permanently closed or open before the energy stored attains the predetermined value, the energy is dissipated, the energy being dissipated at a predetermined slow rate after each operation of the breaker.

In accordance with the invention, the energy may be stored in the form of electrical energy in capacitors, reactors or the like, in the form of mechanical energy as in a spring or in the form of pneumatic or hydraulic energy as in a fluid pressure device.

The novel features that are considered characteristic 'of'my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the storage of electrical energy is used to prevent continuous opening and immediate closing operations or pumping of a circuit breaker,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of the invention,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the storage of pneumatic or hydraulic energy is used to prevent continuous opening and immediate closing operations or pumping of a circuit breaker, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the storage of mechanical energy is used to prevent continuous opening and immediate closing operations or pumping of a circuit breaker.

In Fig. l, apparatus is shown in which a circuit breaker mechanism H of conventional type is prevented from continuously opening and immediately closing, i. e., from pumping as a result of failure of some part or parts of the operating means, such for example as a defective latch, or if the operator holds the closing control switch closed against a continuing fault condition on the line. The closing coil I3 of the circuit interrupter 'II is energizedthrough the contactor I5 of a closing relay il from direct current supply conductors i3 and I5; The closing operation is initiated by a control switch it which closes a circuit through the exciting coil 8! of the closing relay TI. The closing relay 'IT is actuated and closes its contactor I5 to effect energization of the closing coil I3. The relay is also locked in its actuated position in a circuit which extends from the positive line conductor I3 through a conductor 83, a lock-in contactor 35 of the relay TI, the exciting coil 3I of the relay, a normally closed movable contactor 81 of another auxiliary relay 89, the lowest auxiliary switch 98 of the circuit interrupter, which is closed when the breaker is open and which is open an instant before the breaker reaches the fully closed position, a conductor 5 to the negative line conductor I5.

Since the closing coil 13 is energized through the contactor T5, the circuit breaker closes and is locked in the closed position by the latch 91. The lowest auxiliary switch 9| of the circuit breaker is opened when the breaker reaches closed position and, therefore, the closing relay TI is deenergized. Thecircuit through the closing coil i3 is, therefore, opened and the coil is deenergized. If the latch 91 is in proper operating condition, the circuit breaker 'EI remains in closed position.

The control switch I9, instead of being of the push button type which is shown spring biased to open position, may be of the knife type, in which instance the closing relay 11 need not be provided with a locking circuit.

If the latch 91 of the circuit breaker should, however, happen to be defective, the breaker will open immediately. Under these conditions, if the control switch 19 is still held in closed position, the closing relay I'I will be again energized and the above operation repeated. The opening and immediate closing operations of the circuit breaker may thus continue indefinitely as long as the control switch is held closed, with damage not only to the circuit breaker but also to the loads supplied from the main line closed by the breaker.

In accordance with the invention, these continued successive openings and immediate closing operations or pumping actions of the circuit breaker are prevented, by causing the auxiliary relay st to automatically open. its normally closed contactor 8? only after a predetermined number of opening and immediate closing operations have occurred in continuous succession.

The auxiliary relay 8% is of the type that requires a predetermined potential difference for its operation. The potential difference necessary is supplied by charging a reservoir capacitor 99 in circuit with the coil IfiI of the relay in increments until the desired potential difference is attained. The increments are measured out by first charging a supply capacitor I63 from the direct current supply conductors I3 and i5 and then discharging the latter capacitor into the reservoir capacitor $9.

The supply capacitor W3 is connected in a circuit which extends from the positive supply conductor i3 through a conductor 85, the upper auxiliary switch It]? of the circuit breaker, which is closed when the circuit interrupter is open, a resistor I09, the capacitor m3 to the negative supply conductor l5.

On each opening opera-- tion of the circuit interrupter 'II, the supply capacitor It? is charged to a potential limited by the resistor I69 by current flow through this circuit. When the closing coil It closes the circuit interrupter II, the upper auxiliary switch IS'I of the circuit interrupter is opened and a central auxiliary switch III thereon is closed. The latter auxiliary switch III connects the supply capacitor W3 in series with the reservoir capacitor 99. Thus on each closing operation the charge stored in the supply capacitor I03 is, therefore, transferred to the reservoir capacitor 99.

The reservoir capacitor 99 is connected in series with another resistor IE3 and the exciting coil IOI of the auxiliary relay 89. As the circuit interrupter II is opened and closed in rapid succession by reason of a defective part, a charge accumulates on the capacitor 99 and after a predetermined number of such successive opera tions, the potential difierence between the platesv of the capacitor become sufficient to operate: the auxiliary relay 89. The lower movable contactor 81 of the relay is now opened, and, thecircuit through the exciting coil (ii of the closing relay TI is opened. The auxiliary relay 89 is; maintained permanently in actuated position. through its upper lock in contacuor H5 which connects the exciting coil It! across the supply conductors I3I5 through the resistor II3. The circuitbreaker is now maintained in a perma nently open condition until it is repaired.

The invention thus prevents the continuous opening and immediate closing operations or pumping action resulting from a defective part, when the control switch '69 is held closed, or if an operator holds or leaves the closing control switch closed against a continuing fault condition on the line.

During normal opening and closing operations of the breaker and even after a number of quick successive operations have occurred but less than the quick successive number required to cause operation of the relay 89, the charge on the capacitor 99 in circuit with the exciting coil IflI of the second auxiliary relay 89 is slowly dissipated through the exciting coil IM and the resistor II3 in series therewith. Thus the lookout feature is only eirective when a predetermined number of opening and immediate closing operations occur in quick succession.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 is largely similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. However, in this case the anti-pumping feature takes place through an electric discharge valve Ill. The latter may be of the high vacuum or arc-like type but is preferably the latter. It comprises an anode lit, a cathode I2I and a control electrode I23. Anode-cathode potential is supplied to the relay from the supply conductors I3-i5 and the discharge current when it flows energizes the exciting coil IliI of the auxiliary relay 88. The anode-cathode cirsistor I33 which are in series connection between the control electrode I 23 and the cathode HI and are, therefore, in series with the biasing source I21 and the grid resistor I29. The glow" tube I3I has the usual property of becoming conductive when a potential of sufficient magnitude is impressed between its electrodes I35 and I31. The reservoir capacitor 99 is connected in parallel with the resistor i 33. The connection is such that the lower plate I39 which becomes electrically positive during the charging operations is connected to the connection point of the glow tube electrode 131 and the resistor I33. When the potential difference on the capacitor 99 becomes suificiently large, the glow tube I3I becomes conductive and current flows through the glow tube I3I and the grid resistor I29. The current flow from the capacitor 99 through the glow tube I3! takes place in a direction from the lower plate I39 through the tube 'I3-I, the resistor I29 to the upper plate MI. The potentialdroparising from the current flow through the grid resistor I29 is, therefore, in a direction such that the terminal of the resistor connected to the control electrode I23 of the valve H1 is more positive than the terminal connected to the biasing source I 21 and, therefore, the polarity of the potential drop is such that it counteracts the biasing potential I 21 and renders the valve conductive. When this occurs, the auxiliary relay 89 is actuated and locked in the actuated position through its upper contactor H5. The circuit through the closing relay 11 is opened through the lower contactor 81 of the relay 89, and continued pumping operation of the circuit breaker is prevented even though the control switch is held in closed position.

It is to be noted again that if the circuit breaker operates properly, the reservoir capacitor 39 is, in this case, discharged through the resistor I33.

In the Fig. 3 modification, a piston I43 which slides in a small air cylinder I45 of an air pump in communication with an air reservoir I41 is moved with the core 149 of the circuit interrupter closing means 13. When the closing coil 13 is energized toclose the circuit interrupter 1|, the air inthe cylinder I is compressed and transferred to the air reservoir I41 increasing the pressure in the reservoir. The pressure in the reservoir I 4.1 is communicated through a tube I53 to 2. diaphragm I55 which when the pressure becomes sufficiently large, is actuated, thereby moving a bar I51 downwardly and causing a contactor I59 attached to the bar to open against the action of a spring I6I. The bar I51 is adapted to be latched in the down position by a latch I63. The 1 contactor I 59 is connected in circuit with the closing relay coil BI which initiates the closing operation in the same manner as the closing contactors 15 of the closing relays 11 in the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. When the contactor I59 is. open, further closing of the circuit breaker is prevented. If a proper closing operation of the circuit breaker takes place, the excess air in the reservoir I45 is slowly discharged through aleak valve I65.

In the Figure 4 modification the closing means I61 for the circuit interrupter 11 is provided with a bar I 59 which is moved upwardly when the circuit breaker is closed. The bar I59 carries a pawl I1I which, when the bar moves upwardly, rotates a ratchet wheel L13 one notch during each upward motion. The ratchet wheel I13 is rigidly secured to a worm shaft I15. which is rotatable in bearing means, (not shown). The bearing means prevents axial displacement of the. worm. shaft I15. The worm shaft is in engagement with an internally worm threaded tube I11 which is rotatable relative to the Worm shaft I15 and which is also movable axially on the worm shaft. The tube I11 has a clutch disc I19 of a friction clutch I8I rigidly secured to one end thereof, and also has a weight or inertia member I82 secured to its side. This disc I19 is normally spaced a very small distance from a cooperating clutch disc I83 which is rigidly secured to a shaft I85 mounted in bearings (not shown) in alignment with the worm shaft [15. When the worm shaft is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation of the ratchet wheel one notch, the tube I11 and its clutch disc I19 are advanced on the worm shaft until the clutch disc I19 engages the cooperating clutch disc I83. This takes place almost immediately upon the turning of the worm as the normal space between the discs is very small. As .soon as the discs I19 and I83 are engaged the continued counterclockwise turning of the worm shaft I19 causes the tube I11 and its clutch disc I 19 to turn with the worm shaft. The clutch disc ismaintained in pressure engagement with the clutch disc I83 by the turning of the worm shaft I15 so that the disc I93 and its shaft I85 are also turned in a. counterclockwise direction with the worm shaft I15.

The end of the shaft I85 carries an arm I9 I, and the shaft is secured to one end of a clock spring I81, the other end of the spring being fixed. Rotation of the shaft I85 causes the spring to become flexed.

After each rotation of the ratchet wheel by one notch the spring I81 tends to return the shaft I85 to its initial position, and also imparts motion to the tube I11 through the clutch discs I19 and I83 to cause return of the tube I11 to its original position, in which the clutch discs are disengaged. However, the return movement of the shaft I85 to its original position is retarded and delayed by a governor I89 mounted on the shaft I 85 which causes a drag to be applied to the shaft by actuating a friction brake I90. By reason of the retarding action of the governor I89 the successive operations of the pawl I1I when the breaker opens andimmediate- 1y closes a predetermined number of times in rapid succession causes the shaft I85 to be rotated through a predetermined angle.

The shaft I85 carries at its end the lever ISI which engages a movable contactor I93 when the shaft I85 has moved through a predetermined angle. The engagement of the lever and the element causes the latter to open. The contactor I93 opens a circuit through the exciting coil BI of the closing relay 11, in the same manner as the contactors 81 and I59 in the other embodiments. A latch I95 is provided for latching the contactor I93 in the open position so that the closing relay is permanently deenergized and the circuit breaker is prevented from further operating.

While the invention has been shown as applied to a circuit breaker operating means in which the breaker when opened remains open until the manually operable closing control switch is closed, the invention may also be embodied in a circuit breaker operating means connected in an automatic reclosing system.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to" be restricted except "insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for holding said breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, closing means for closing said breaker, and means including a control switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an electrical charge storing means, means for charging said storing means a predetermined amount at each operation of said breaker by building up a potential difference in said charge storing means, and means actuated following an operation of said breaker at which the charge stored in said storing means has reached a predetermined potential for preventing further closing of said breaker.

2. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for holding said breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, closing means for closing said breaker, and means including a manually controlled switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, said breaker when opened remaining open until said manually controlled switch is closed; means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a spring, means for stressing said spring a predetermined amount at each operation of said breaker to store energy therein, and means actuated when a predetermined amount of energy is stored in said spring for preventing further closing of said breaker.

3. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and means including a switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated during each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from said first charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means actuated by the charge on said second charge storing means when its charge attains a predetermined value for preventing further closing of the breaker.

4. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and means including a switch for causing energization of said closing means.

to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated during each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from said first charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means actuated by the charge on said second charge storing means when its charge attains a predetermined value for preventing further closing of the breaker, and means for discharging said second charge storing means at a predetermined slow rate.

5. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and means including a switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing or" said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated upon each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from said first charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means actuated by the difference of potential produced by the charge on said second charge storing means when its charge attains a predetermined value for preventing further closing of the breaker.

6. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and means including a switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated upon each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from said first charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means including an electric discharge valve actuated when the difference of potential of the second charge storing means attains a predetermined value for preventing further closing of said circuit breaker.

7. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and means including a manually controlled switch for causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated during each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from saidfirst charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means including a glow tube connected to said second charge storingmeans. rendered conductive when the diiference of potential on said second charge storing means attains a predetermined value to cause said, last mentioned means to prevent further closing of said breaker.

8. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, and meansfor causing energization of said closing means to effect closing of said breaker, means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a first charge storing means, means actuated during each opening operation of the breaker for charging said first charge storing means, a second charge storing means, means actuated upon each closing operation of the breaker for transferring the charge from. said first charge storing means to said second charge storing means, and means including a glow tube connected tov said second charge storing means rendered conductive when the charge on said second charge storing means attains a predetermined value and an electric dischargejvalve having a control circuit to which the glow tube is connected, said discharge valve being actuated when said glow tube is rendered conductive to cause said last-mentioned means to prevent further closing ofsaid breaker.

9. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including closing means for closing said breaker, means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, a circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed when the breaker opens and a control switch, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said control switch is held closed; and means 0perable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing saidclosing means from further closing said breaker, said means comprising a capacitor, means-for charging said capacitor at each operation of said breaker, and means actuated by the charge on said'capacitor when its charge attains a predetermined value for preventing further energization of said closing means.

10. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means, therefor including closing means for closing said breaker, means for releasably holding saidbreaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, a circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed when the breaker opens and a control switch, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said control switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing said closing means from further closing said breaker, said means comprising a capacitor, means for charging said capacitor at each operation of said breaker, and means including a relay actuated by the charge on said capacitor when its charge attains a predetermined value for opening and holding open the circuit which causes energization of said closing means.

11. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including closing means for closing said breaker, means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, a circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed when the breaker opens and a control switch, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said control switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing said closing means from further closing said breaker, said means comprising a capacitor, means for charging said capacitor at each operation of said breaker, and means actuated by the charge on said capacitor when its charge attains a predetermined value for preventing further energization of said closing means, and means for discharging said capacitor at a predetermined slow rate.

12. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means'to cause opening of the breaker, power operated closing means for operating the breaker to closed position upon energization of said closing means, circuit means including a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed immediately the breaker opens, for effecting energization of the closing means to close the breaker when the manual closing control switch is closed, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manually operable closing control switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further operation of said closing means, said means comprising an energy storing device, means independent of the value of current in the main circuit of the breaker for transmitting a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means upon each operation of the breaker, a normally closed lockout switch included in said circuit means, and means responsive to the condition of said energy storing device for opening said lockout switch to prevent further operation of said closing means when a predetermined amount of energy has been stored in said energy storing device.

13. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, power operated closing meansfor operating the breaker to closed position upon energization of said closing means, a closing relay having a winding operable when energized to cause a closing operation of said closing means, circuit means in cluding a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which closes imm diately the breaker opens, for energizing the closing relay to effect closing of the breaker when the manual closing control switch is closed, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manually operable closing control switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an energy storing device, means operated only when the breaker is operated for causing the transmission of a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means upon each operation of said breaker, and a normally closed lockout switch included in said circuit means, and means responsive to the condition of said energy storing device for opening said lockout switch to prevent further closing of the breaker following an operation at which the energy stored in said energy storing device has reached a predetermined amount, and means for slowly dissipating the energy stored in said storing device.

14. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, power operated closing means for operating the breaker to closed position upon energization of said closing means, circuit means including a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed by the time the breaker reaches open position, for effecting energization of said closing means to cause closing of the breaker when said manual closing control switch is closed, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to a close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said closing control switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an energy storing device, means independent of the value of the current flowing in the main circuit of the breaker for transmitting a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means upon each operation of said breaker, and means actuated by said energy storing device following an operation at which the energy stored therein has reached a predetermined amourrt for preventing further closing of said breaker by said manually operable closing control switch, and means for slowly dissipating the energy stored in said storing means.

15. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including power operated closing means for operating the breaker to closed position upon energization of said closing means, means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of said breaker, a. circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed immediately the breaker opens and a manually operable closing control switch, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manually controlled switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an energy storing device, means independent of the value of current flowing in the main circuit of the breaker for transmitting a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means upon each operation of said breaker, a normally closed lockout switch connected in series in the circuit with said auxiliary switch and said manually operable closing control switch, and means for opening said lockout switch when said energy storing means has attained a predetermined amount of energy for preventing further operation of said closing means.

16. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including power operated closing means for operating the breaker to closed position upon energizaticn of said closing means, means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of said breaker, a circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed immediately the breaker opens and a manually operable closing control switch, said breaker when opened remaining open until said manually controlled switch is closed, said operating means being sub ject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manually controlled switch is held closed; and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an energy storing device, means independent of the value of current flowing in the main circuit of the breaker for transmitting a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means upon each operation of said breaker, a lockout relay having normally closed contacts connected in series in the circuit with said auxiliary switch and said manually operable control switch, and means for actuating said lockout relay when said energy storing device has attained a predetermined amount of energy, to open and hold open the circuit which causes energization of said closing means.

17. In combination, a circuit breaker, operating means therefor including power operated closing means for operating the breaker to closed position upon energization of said closing means, means for releasably holding said breaker closed, means operable to cause opening of said breaker, a circuit for causing energization of said closing means having in series therein an auxiliary switch which is closed immediately the breaker opens and a manually operable closing control switch, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to cause said breaker to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manually controlled switch is held closed; and means operable only after said to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an energy storing device, means movable upon each operation of the breaker for causing the transmission of a predetermined quantity of energy to said storing means each time the breaker is operated to one of its positions, and a normally closed lockout switch connected in series in the circuit with said auxiliary switch and said manually operable closing control switch, said lockout switch being actuated by said energy storing device when said stor ing device has attained a predetermined amount of energy, for opening and holding open the circuit which causes energization of said closing means.

18. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, circuit means including a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed when the breaker is open, for causing energization of said closing means to close the breaker, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manual control switch is closed, and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a fluid storing container, means for storing a predetermined quantity of fluid energy in said container upon each operation of the breaker, means actuated following an operation at which a predetermined quantity of fluid energy has been stored in said container, for preventing further closing or" said breaker, and means for slowly dissipating the fluid energy stored in said container.

19. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, circuit means including a manual closing control switch, and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed when the breaker is open, for causing energization of said closing means to close the breaker, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manual control switch is closed, and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising an electrical charge-storing device, means for storing a predetermined quantity of electric energy in said charge-storing means upon each operation of the breaker, means actuated following an operation at which the energy stored in said storage device has reached a predetermined amount, for preventing further closing of the breaker by said circuit means, and a discharge means through which the charge in said storage device is slowly discharged.

20. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, circuit means including a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed when the breaker is open, for causing energization of said closing means to close the breaker, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manual control switch is closed, and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a spring, means for storing a predetermined quantity of energy in said spring by stressing said spring upon each operation of the breaker, means operable following an operation at which the energy stored in said spring has reached a predetermined amount, for preventing further closing of the breaker, and means for slowly dissipating the energy stored in said spring, said energy dissipating means comprising a retarding device for retarding the restoring action of said spring.

21. In combination, a circuit breaker biased to open circuit position, operating means therefor including means for releasably holding the breaker closed, means operable to release said holding means to cause opening of the breaker, closing means for closing the breaker, circuit means including a manual closing control switch and an auxiliary switch on the breaker which is closed when the breaker is open, for causing energization of said closing means to close the breaker, said operating means being subject under certain abnormal conditions to open and immediately attempt to close an indefinite number of times in rapid succession as long as said manual control switch is closed, and means operable only after said breaker has opened and immediately attempted to close a predetermined number of times in rapid succession for preventing further closing of said breaker, said means comprising a fluid container, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of fluid to said container upon each operation of the breaker, means operable following an operation at which the fluid supplied to said container has reached a predetermined amount, for preventing further closing of the breaker, said container having a slow leakage outlet for slowly dissipating the fluid stored in said container.

MAURICE E. REAGAN 

